Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch Mine greatly improved in safety performance in early 2008 in response to a threat for tougher federal enforcement, the jury in the Don Blankenship case heard this morning.

Upper Big Branch reduced its violations by 44 percent in the first quarter of 2008, better than the 30 percent goal set by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration, former Performance Coal President Chris Blanchard testified.

Blanchard was on the stand this morning continuing to be cross-examined by lead defense lawyer Bill Taylor as the 13^th day of testimony in the Blankenship case began.

Taylor got Blanchard to agree that MSHA did not demand that UBB reduced its violations to zero.